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Richmond, B.C.-based Nature’s Path Foods Inc. is announcing that their company’s facility in Delta, B.C. – home of their Que Pasa Mexican Foods brand – has been certified at the Gold Level by the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council. In doing so, Nature’s Path has become the first and only facility in Canada to become Zero Waste certified by the council.

“We live by the mantra ‘leave the earth better than you found it’ and feel we owe it to future generations to be good stewards of the land and adhere to our triple bottom line,” says Jyoti Stephens, senior director, Human Resources and Sustainability, Nature’s Path. “We strive to be as environmentally sustainable as possible in everything we do and being Zero Waste is an important initiative for us. After all, at Nature’s Path we love to make delicious, organic breakfast and snacks, not waste.”

According to a press release from Nature’s Path, the company estimates annual savings of more than $56,000 due to waste diversion. Additionally, diverting waste from landfills supports local green businesses, including local recycling companies.

Nature’s Paths’ Delta facility currently diverts 95 per cent of waste from landfills, totaling 1.2 million lbs and surpassing the criteria of diverting 90 percent of waste produced away from the landfill which is achieved through recycling and composting. The company conducts independent, third-party waste audits every two years.

The U.S. Zero Waste Business Council defines Zero Waste as “designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them. Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.”

“Nature’s Path is a leader in creating a zero waste economy for all. We were very impressed with what they have accomplished and their ongoing direction; the company is clearly committed to the goal of zero waste as part of their overall sustainability initiatives,” says Stephanie Barger, founder and executive director of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council. “We loved seeing how simple the process and ingredients are, and were blown away by the Nature’s Path program. The company has clearly created value through Zero Waste in their operation.”